Islām (إسلام)
Definition
Islām (Arabic: إسلام) signifies resignation or submission to the will of God. It is the term used by adherents to describe their faith and way of life, marked by adherence to divine guidance as revealed through Prophet Muhammad.
Etymology and Translation
The word Islām comes from the Arabic root س-ل-م (s-l-m), which encompasses meanings of peace, purity, submission, and acceptance. This clarifies Islām as the path of peaceful submission to God’s commandments.
- Arabic: إسلام (Islām)
- Turkish: İslam
Core Beliefs and Practices
Five Pillars of Islām
Prophet Muhammad elucidated Islām through the observance of five fundamental duties, known as the Five Pillars:
- Shahada (Bearing Witness)
- Declaration of faith in the oneness of God and prophethood of Muhammad.
- Salat (Daily Prayers)
- Performing five daily prayers facing the Kaaba in Mecca.
- Zakat (Almsgiving)
- Donating a portion of one’s wealth for charitable purposes.
- Sawm (Fasting during Ramadan)
- Observing a fast from dawn to dusk during the month of Ramadan.
- Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)
- Undertaking a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime if able.
Qur’anic Significance
In the Qur’an, Islām denotes a state of homage and submission to God. For instance:
<p>“Say: We believe in God and in what hath been sent down to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes, and in what was given to Moses, and Jesus and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no difference between them, and to Him are we resigned (i.e., Muslims). Whoso desireth any other religion than Islām, that religion shall never be accepted of Him, and in the next world he shall be lost.” (Qur’an, Sūrah Āl-ʿImrān: 3:78-79)</p>
Terminology
Three specific terms depict religion in Islamic literature:
- Dīn (دين): Refers to religion as it relates to God (e.g., Dīnullāh, the religion of God).
- Millah (ملة): Relates to a prophet or lawgiver (e.g., Millatu Ibrāhīm, the religion of Abraham).
- Maẕhab (مذهب): Concerns the doctrines of specific Islamic scholars (e.g., Maẕhab Ḥanafī, the teachings of Abū Ḥanīfah).
Followers and Community
Those who practice Islām are referred to as Muslims (مسلمون) or Muʾmins (مؤمنون), meaning believers. The term Ahlu ʾl-Kitāb (أهل الكتاب), or “the people of the Book,” is also used in Islamic texts for Muslims, Jews, and Christians.
Further Reading
- “Islam: The Straight Path” by John L. Esposito
- “No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam” by Reza Aslan
- “The Oxford History of Islam” edited by John L. Esposito
- “The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary” by Seyyed Hossein Nasr et al.
Takeaways and Conclusion
Islām encompasses the principles of submission and peace under the will of God. Through rituals and the adherence to the Five Pillars, Muslims live a life rooted in spiritual and social responsibility. Understanding Islām’s terminology helps in grasping the broader aspects of Islamic theology and its universal messages of faith and ethical conduct.
By delving into the primary sources and further scholarly works, one gains a deeper appreciation and comprehensive understanding of Islām and its role in shaping individual lives and societies.
